Q. Members of the Forum lead by you were very active in the commemoration events on Khojaly Genocide.

A. First of all, I would like to draw attention to a special moment. Today, successful youth policy lead in Azerbaijan goes beyond its territories. As a result of this successful policy, thousands of Azerbaijani students who study abroad are actively participating in the events which provide the world community with national values, and realities of our state. Justice for Khojaly campaign was launched on May 8, 2008 on the anniversary of Shusha`s occupation by Armenians with the initiation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s vice president, chief coordinator of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for intercultural dialogue Leyla Aliyeva. The campaign is currently functioning in more than 30 countries of the world with the support of volunteers. Its main goal now is to inform the world community on Khojaly tragedy and reach legal assessment and mental value for the genocide act. Azerbaijani youth who experience the student life abroad are joining these patriotic events.

This year active members of ASAIF have organized Khojaly weeks in the cities and universities they study. For example, many events were organized in the frame of Justice for Khojaly campaign in Ottawa, Canada, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir cities of Turkey, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland.

London, Exeter, Essex, Manchester, Aberdeen, Sheffield and Glasgow cities of GB have been home to a number of various events, lectures, conferences and exhibitions on Khojaly Genocide and overall Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Although the organizers of the events were the Azerbaijani communities in those universities, the country`s Embassy in UK and ASAIF have also supported them.

More special and memorable events of the year were the successful march in London to commemorate the Khojaly tragedy victims organized by ASAIF. A crowded march with the participation of the visitors from other cities and countries, with friends of the Azerbaijani nation has started on February 23 with the “Justice for Khojaly” slogan in Trafalgar Square.

The march which headed to the UK Parliament Building has gathered interest of the London residents and media representatives.

There were many foreign students who accepted Justice for Khojaly campaign together with us. Students from Turkey, USA, UK, Romania, Finland, Hungary, Georgia, Russia, Turkmenistan, Cyprus and other countries have condemned invidious policy led by Armenia, acquiring to pay a special legal assessment for this genocide act.

Azerbaijani students who came from Oxford, Cambridge, York, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Exeter, Essex, Southampton and other cities actively participated. I can underline, ASAIF will continue functioning towards this direction, and urge the Azerbaijani Youth abroad for the interests of the country.

Social-economic progress of the country, principles given by President Ilham Aliyev for the youth policy has determined the role of the younger ones in the future of the country, giving us important tasks. From this point of view multi-branched functioning of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is a great example and life school to the Azerbaijani youth living in the country and abroad. The main objective of this organization is to back the large-scale programs which introduces and teaches the national leader Heydar Aliyev`s rich statehood heritage, to support the beneficial initiatives for the improvement of people`s well-being, also to assist the projects which provides progress of the science, education, culture, arts, health care and sport and other duties to enhance the reputation of the country. It is another objective of the Foundation to train the younger generation with national values. Heydar Aliyev Foundation has earned reputation and trust on the international level. The Azerbaijani students who study abroad always feel the Foundation`s care and support.

Q. Hopefully ASAIF won`t be satisfied with the current successes and will continue to gather Azerbaijani youth studying abroad, evoking feelings of patriotism and national values in their souls. Another magnificent event Rome Forum is waiting for you ahead.

A. The Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum is on the verge of making another success.

On March 27-30 with the support of Azerbaijan Republic Youth and Sports Ministry it is planned to held “Azerbaijan 2020: young look” forum in Rome, Italy. The main theory of the forum has been taken from the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s recommendations told during the meeting with youth on 21 April 2011. The Head of state told: “We would like to see the Azerbaijani youth professional, smart, devoted to the Motherland and the state, who will love their country. They should be rightly proud that they are Azerbaijani citizens.”

Rome Forum is backing the “Azerbaijani Youth in 2011-2015” program realized under President Ilham Aliyev`s order and it is a great opportunity and support for the students who will participate there.

Rome Forum is the first global event of ASAIF. If on the prior Strasburg, Budapest and Vienne forums the priorities were given to the students who were studying in Europe, now the Azerbaijani youth who study in various countries of the world can participate there.

Moreover, Azerbaijani and Italian youth organizations` Chairmen will hold meetings and sign memorandums. Those documents will positively affect the bilateral relations between the two countries. Also there will be organized a big job fair with the participation of the Azerbaijan`s state and private sector representatives for the improvement of the young specialists work and production experiences. Progress conception of “Azerbaijan 2020: a look into the future” will be discussed and reported in the Forum.

I would like to add that on February 13 with the initiation of ASAIF the Energy forum was held in the British House of Commons with participation of 250 experts and students organizations representing 15 countries, Azerbaijani and Turkish officials, private sector chiefs and UK Parliamentary representatives.